Capítulo 1153: Chapter 1147: Glory and Wealth This is also why Bai Qingyan left Xiao Ruohai to Bai Jinzhi and General Shen Kunyang. Clearly, Bai Qingyan was worried about Bai Jinzhi leaving Xiao Ruohai to Bai Jinzhi. Bai Jinzhi was also concerned about her eldest sister wanting to attack Yecheng Pass, the most difficult pass in Xiliang. So, she quietly sent Xiao Ruohai back to her eldest sister. Seeing Bai Qingyan placing the map drawn by Xiao Ruohai on the table and examining it carefully with her siblings, Xiao Ruohai continued, “On my way back from Yecheng Pass, I encountered the family of the Governor of Suining City, who had abandoned the city and fled. Interestingly, after escaping, the governor’s family suddenly decided to return!” “At that time, I was also heading to Suining City, so I mingled with the governor’s family until we entered the city, whereupon the governor’s family discovered that I was from Zhou. As we speak, the governor’s family has been detained, and they’re clamoring to see the Young Lady, claiming they have a brilliant plan to conquer Yecheng Pass and refusing to speak unless they see her. I wonder if the Young Lady is willing to see them?” Upon entering the city, the Governor of Suining was initially startled upon learning Xiao Ruohai was from Zhou, then began to curse vehemently. After reviewing Xiao Ruohai’s map of Yecheng Pass, Bai Qingyan turned to her wet nurse-brother with a smile and said, “Very well… let’s see what insights this governor, who abandoned his city, has to offer.” “Eldest Young Lady should first meet this governor who fled, to find out what great plan he has. Meanwhile, us siblings will study the detailed map drawn by Xiao Ruohai to see if there’s any quick way to breach the city,” Bai Qingjue said with a smile to Bai Qingyan. “Alright…” Bai Qingyan nodded, instructing someone to bring the governor to the main hall, and then smiled at Xiao Ruohai, “You’ve had a hard journey, my wet nurse-brother. Wash up and take a nap. Eunuch Wei says the lamb in Xiliang is excellent, so let’s have lamb hotpot for dinner.” “I’ll accompany the Young Lady to meet this governor and rest afterward,” Xiao Ruohai insisted. Hearing this, Bai Qingyan nodded, realizing Xiao Ruohai might have more to say, “Then I shall trouble my wet nurse-brother.” As Xiao Ruohai followed Bai Qingyan through the winding corridors to the main hall, he spoke softly, “During the journey, I noticed this governor fears his wife. Whether it was fleeing or returning, it was all decided by the governor’s wife. After some investigation, I found out his wife is none other than the half-sister of General Ye Shouguan, the guardian of Yecheng Pass. It is said that in the past, when General Ye was alive, the governor’s wife and her mother were highly favored. General Ye, wise throughout his life, wanted to elevate a concubine in his old age, which led to the death of General Ye Shouguan’s mother from anger, causing a near rift between Ye Shouguan and the old general. It was only resolved when the clan of the Ye family intervened.” Googlᴇ search novelꜰire.net Xiao Ruohai avoided mentioning this in front of the other Bai family members, as the Ninth Young Master, the Fifth Young Lady, the Sixth Young Lady, and the Seventh Young Lady were all born to concubines, so he discussed the matter only with Bai Qingyan. “This governor was originally a general. The old General Ye married his beloved daughter to a trustworthy subordinate and, using the Ye family’s connections at court, positioned him as the governor of Suining City, a lucrative trade route. Over the years, the governor has amassed considerable wealth, yet the finances are managed by his wife, toward whom he is utterly submissive and indecisive,” Xiao Ruohai said, helping Bai Qingyan down the steps ahead, continuing, “Therefore, I surmise that the one meeting the Young Lady later will be both the governor and his wife.” “The Ye family is historically a family of generals. They have guarded Yecheng Pass for generations, so this governor’s wife, having grown up there, is likely very knowledgeable about the pass’s layout,” Bai Qingyan contemplated deeply, “That’s what I think too…” Xiao Ruohai nodded, “Since the governor’s wife used to be the apple of the old General Ye’s eye, she might even know of a secret passage in Yecheng Pass.” Bai Qingyan shook her head, “That’s unlikely. Common city construction might incorporate secret passages to call for aid if besieged from all sides, but the terrain diagram of Yecheng Pass, which you drew, shows it has even more strategic advantages than the Qingxi Mountain Pass and Qiushan Pass. It’s entirely secure against sieges, as the rear is half of Xiliang itself. Which country could afford to bypass Yecheng Pass to surround it from behind? With that kind of effort… they might as well head straight for Yunjing. Once Yunjing falls, Yecheng Pass would be isolated.” “Is the Young Lady planning to have Fourth Young Lady and General Shen bypass it? Or will it be Fifth Young Master and Second Young Lady?” Xiao Ruohai was slightly stunned. “We are targeting Yecheng Pass to shatter Xiliang’s morale swiftly, just like when we took Qingxi Mountain Pass and Daliang’s morale collapsed. It’s a similar concept…” She looked at Xiao Ruohai, “So, Yecheng Pass must be captured.” Madam Governor, Ye Yingnan, her eyes firm, adjusted her daughter’s stray hair and, seeing her daughter’s red-rimmed eyes, said calmly, “Now that Zhou is advancing aggressively, it’s clear Xiliang is doomed. Your brother is only seven. Mother will first seek for the Emperor of Zhou’s sister to marry your brother, but there’s always a chance things may not work out. If the Emperor of Zhou uses the excuse that your brother is too young, then Mother will use this opportunity to have you marry the Emperor of Zhou’s younger brother. This is the only way to secure our family’s prosperity and your brother’s future! I don’t wish to persuade you more. You’re a smart child, and you’ll surely understand.” Ye Yingnan’s daughter lowered her gaze, suppressing the gleam in her eyes, and when she looked up again, she appeared fragile and weak, clutching her mother’s hand with tears shimmering in her eyes as if they would fall at any moment. She knew her mother would first exert every effort to have the Emperor of Zhou’s sister marry her brother. Having the Emperor of Zhou’s sister in their fold would give them leverage over the Emperor, preventing any rash actions against their family and paving the best possible path for her brother’s future. But why should she concede this opportunity for advancement to her brother? She said, “I understand, Mother. With the longstanding grudge between Grandmother, Uncle, and us, even if we go back now, Uncle may not accept us. I have no complaints. If sacrificing my happiness ensures our family’s glory, I will gladly do it! But what if the Empress of Zhou refuses to marry off her sister and insists I marry that illegitimate crippled brother of hers?”